Fluid-flow-control mechanism



J. MCL. KINGSBURY.

FLUID FLOW CONTROL MECHANISM.v

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1916. RENEwED IuNE 2,1920.

Patented July 20, 1920.

To all whom z't may concern.'

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MOLEAN KINGSBURY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

rLUrn-rLow-con'rnor. mEcHANrsM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1920.

Application led February 7, 1916, Serial No. 76,626. Renewed June 2, 1920. Serial No. 386,047.

Be it known that I, J oHN MCLEAN KINGSBURY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the 'county of New York and the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Iiluid-Flow-Control Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, 'reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to fluid iow controls and is concerned with the automatic govern ing of a flow of liquid to a vessel to stop the flow when the level ofv liquid-in the vessel has reached a certain height, or to start the iow when the level of liquid in the vessel has dropped to a certain point, or both.

It will appear to those skilled in the art that my invention may have wide application and many and diverse uses, and I desire that the scope of my invention shall be de termined by the appended claims, regardless of the particular use to which the combination may be put. In the accompanying drawings I illustrate exemplary forms of my invention so that those skilled in the art may be properly instructed in the use thereof, and I shall referto these drawings specifically by reference characters in the following description of these specific embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings- Figure 1 illustrates more or less diagrammatically a form of my invention v.whereby the flow oi' liquid is controlled by a valve;

Fig. 2 illustrates more or less diagrammatically the form of my invention wherein the flow of liquid is controlled by the stopping and starting of a pump; and

Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically means for maintaining the liquid at a substantially constant level.

Referring first to Fig. l, it, will be seen that I provide a vessel 1, which has an outlet 2, controlled by a valve 3. An inlet pipe 4 leads to the vessel from a suitable source of supply and a valve 5 is connected to this inlet pipe. The valve stem '-6 carries an arm 7, whicllyby means of a slot 8 anda pin'9, is mechanically connected' with a vertically reciprocating armature member 10, the upper end of which forms the armature core for a solenoid winding 11 and the lower end of which forms the armature core for a solenoid l2. The winding 12 is connected at one end by means of a conductor 13 with a contact terminal 14 disposed'at a suitable point in the vessel 1, either in the wall thereof or hung in any convenient manner. Associated with the contact terminal 14 is another contact terminal 15 which is preferably adjustably mounted. As an example I illustrate the contact terminal 15 mounted upon an arm.

16l which is secured in any adjusted position by means of a screw 17 and which may be swung about the screw 17 so that the distance between the contact terminals 14 and 15 may be adjusted. The terminal 15 is connected with one pole of a battery 18, and the other pole of the ,battery is connected with the remaining end of the solenoid winding 12 by means of a conductor v19. The two terminals are disposed approximately at the level which is desired as the maximum level of the liquid in the vessel.

One terminal of the solenoid winding-11 is connected by means of a conductor 20 with a contact point 21 adapted to be engaged by the armature 22 which is connected by means of a conductor 23 with one pole of its battery 24, the other pole of this battery being connected, by means of a conductor 25 with the remaining terminal of -the solenoid winding 11. The armature 22 .is associated with the core 26 of a relay winding 27 which, with a battery 2 8 is connected between two contacty terminals 29 and 30 disposed at the desired minimum level for the liquid in the vessel. The contact terminals are mounted in any suitable'manner within the vessel, as described above relative to the Contact terminals 14 and 15, and the terminal 30 is preferably mounted adjustably in the way that the terminal 15 is mounted. The energization of the winding 27 attracts rthe armature 22, breaking the circuit at 21. The denergization of this winding allows the retracting spring 31 to pull back the armature 22 into engagement with the contact 21. The arrangement at the valve 5 is such that the valve will remain in either position in which it is thrown by the energization of either the winding 11 or the winding l2, a

snap spring 32 being provided for thisspuln i pose, as an example.

In describing the operation of the structure of my invention, it may be assumed that, if desired, the liquid in the vessel 1 be maintained between twp deinite'limits,-be

feeding a conducting liquid to said vessel, electrical means for controlling'the feed of said liquid, and electric circuits including` said electrical means, a source of current, separated stationary terminals disposed within said vessel at the desired minimum level and separated stationary terminals at the desired maximum level, the circuits between said terminals being adapted to be closed by said liquid acting as part of the circuit.

2. In combination, a vessel, means for feeding a conducting liquid to said vessel, electrical means for controlling the feed of said liquid, an electric circuit including said electrical means, a source of current, and relay contacts, and a circuit for said relay including a source of current and stationary terminals disposed within said vessel at the desired minimum level, the circuit between said terminals being adapted to be closed by said liquid acting as part of the circuit, and stationary terminals disposed within said vessel at the desired maximum level,

said terminals having connection with' said.

electrical means for determining the maximum level in said vessel.

3. In combination, a vessel, means for feeding a conducting liquid to said vessel, electrical means for starting the How of liquid, electrical means for stopping the flow lof liquid, an electric circuit arrangement for each of said electrical means, the circuit arrangement for the starting means terminating in two stationary separated terminals disposed at the desired minimum level in said vessel, and the circuit arrangement for the stopping means terminating in two stationary separated terminals at the desired maximum level in said vessel, the respective circuits being closed by the contact of the liquid with said terminals, the liquid'acting as part of the circuits.

4;. In combination, a vessel, means for feeding a conducting liquid to said Vessel, electrical means for controlling the feed of said liquid, contact terminals disposed within said vessel at the desired maximum level,

contact terminals disposed within said vessel at the desired minimum level, and electric circuit connections between saidq terminals and said electrical control means, whereby said liquid is maintained between the levels of said rst and said second contact terminals. l

5. In combination, a vessel, means for feeding a conducting liquid to said vessel, electrical means for controlling the feed of said liquid and an electric circuit including said electrical means, a source of current and separated contact terminals disposed within said vessel at the predetermined level of said liquid, one of said terminals being mounted on a pivoted arm whereby it may be turned to and from the other terminal,

and means for holding the pivoted arm in l an adjusted position.

It witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 1st day of February, 1916.

` JOHN MGLEAN KINGSBURY. 

